Rest Your Eyes & Get a Good Night’s Sleep!

You know how you feel when you don’t get enough sleep – cranky, foggy, dragging through the day? And your eyes may be red and puffy with black bags underneath. But not only does lack of sleep affect the appearance of your eyes, it can also interfere with your eye health. How? Your Potomac eye doctor explains all about the connection between sleep and your vision.

What do eyes do during sleep?

Studies have shown that when you sleep throughout the night, you experience three to five episodes of REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep, comprising 20-25% of your sleep time. During these sleep stages, most of your body’s muscles shut down and relax, but not your eyes. In fact, eyes move so fast during REM that they can reach up to 1,000 degrees of movement per second.

The precise purpose of REM sleep remains unknown, however we do know that if you don’t get enough solid zzz’s, serious eye problems can result.

What happens when your eyes don’t sleep enough?

Puffiness and dark circles under your eyes

These are only cosmetic issues and not a dangerous side effect of sleep deprivation. But they can be quite unattractive and make you look old and tired.

Red eyes

Sometimes a poor night’s rest leads to popped blood vessels in your eye. Though they’re not painful, most people don’t like sporting the zombie look.

Twitching or eye spasms

Also known as myokymia, these involuntary eye movements can be uncomfortable, but they will pass after you get more rest. Yet, in the meantime they can be very frustrating and make it hard to drive, work, or read.

Dry, itchy eyes

Without enough sleep, the fluid circulation of lubricating tears in your eyes doesn’t work well, leading to dry eyes or making a case of dry eye syndrome even worse. Not only do dry eyes cause irritation, but they can also compromise the health of your eyes. You may experience an increased sensitivity to light or blurry vision. Also, people with dry eyes tend to rub them, which exacerbates the problem and can lead to infection. And of course, if you are sleep deprived, your immune system is weakened; so infection can occur more easily. If your dry eyes last more than a few days, call our Potomac to book an eye exam and get relief from personalized dry eye treatment.

By the way, if you try to solve your sleep problem with sleeping pills, beware! According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, these drugs can have serious side effects that may complicate your body’s ability to secrete moisture, which can cause dry eye.

Glaucoma

This sight-threatening eye disease happens when too much pressure builds up inside the eye and there is damage to the optic nerve. A 2019 article published in The Journal of Glaucoma reported the results of a study of more than 6,700 people over 40 years old in the US who have glaucoma, and a strong link was found between having glaucoma and having various sleep problems.

AION – Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

This condition is closely linked to sleep apnea. AION is a persistent inflammation of eye vessels, which can lead to vision loss eventually. It results from the optic nerve not getting a proper supply of blood and oxygen.

Did you know eyes eat as you sleep?

When you doze through the night, your body organs get nourished. Everything you eat passes first through your liver, and at night, the energy from this food travels throughout your body – including to your eyeballs. So to keep your eyes healthy and your vision working efficiently, you need solid, restful sleep!

If you’re having trouble sleeping at night, our Potomac advises you to ask us about taking eye vitamins to counteract some of the side effects of sleep deprivation. These supplements can alleviate some of the pain of dry eye too.

Are you tired?

Most likely, you’re fully aware of when you are sleep-deprived. And if you aren’t self-aware, then usually someone around you – family, co-workers, friends – will point out your grouchy attitude. When that happens regularly, it’s time to take a look at your daily habits and figure out the root of your sleep loss (before you lose your friends too!). Remedying this problem can give you a whole new perspective on waking up in the morning!

At Wink Eyecare Boutique, we put your family’s needs first. Talk to us about how we can help you maintain healthy vision. Call us today: 301-250-1458 or book an appointment online to see one of our Potomac eye doctors.

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Testimonials

Always love going to Wink! Their service and frame selection are excellent. The staff is so knowledgeable and so helpful in selecting just the perfect frame for your face. The only place I will shop for eyewear....

- Connie M, Potomac

5

My daughter and I both got glasses here. We had terrific experiences. The technicians are wonderful. There is no puff test. They have advanced technology for the exam. Dr. Rachel is wonderful. There is a range of frames in terms of price. Very highly recommend!...

- Anonymous, Potomac

5

I found Dr. Cohn and the people at Wink Eyecare Boutique to be extremely friendly and professional. They have the latest equipment for eye testing which is quick and efficient and Dr. Cohn took the time to thoroughly test my eyes and explain everything to me. I would definitely recommend...

- Sarah C, Potomac

5

Wink was strongly recommended to me by a friend. Tucked in a shopping center where I would never have seen it -- very grateful to be directed to Wink by someone I trust. It is top notch and efficient on the technological side (eye exam expertise; both the equipment and...

- Carol S, Potomac

5

Came to Wink on a friend's recommendation for a long-overdue eye exam. Dr. Cohn is wonderful - very professional, thorough, and knowledgeable. I ended up getting fitted for new contact lenses and they were very honest about the cost and process. Dr. Cohn had me do a trial and then...

- Sarika P, Potomac

5

Amazing. Everyone is so helpful and friendly. They are truly looking out for your best interests. Dr. Cohn is excellent, She uses the latest technology and it’s very reassuring to know I received a very thorough exam. The selection of frames is the best in town and the optical staff...

- Amy G, Potomac

5

Great care (both in exam and shop), and friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and nonpushy advice as always. Been coming for years!...

- Michelle W, Potomac

5

Dr. Cohn is the greatest eye doctor ever!!!! Books in 30-minute increments so you never feel like you are in a factory and she has the best up to date equipment to ensure eye health and deliver super sharp vision correction. The staff, frames and facilities are all top notches! So glad...

- Anonymous, Potomac

5

The whole staff is just amazing. Kim who works at the front desk knows everyone by name. Dr. Cohn is an amazing optometrist with the very newest high tech machines to examine your eyes without having to be dilated!!...

- Andrea M, Potomac

5

As always Dr. Cohn gives an excellent and thorough eye examination. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly. I have been coming to Wink for many years for all of my vision needs....

- Anonymous, Potomac

5

My experience at Wink was well above what I expected. The staff and Dr. Cohn were extremely helpful answering all my questions and helping me with picking out glasses. Dr. Cohn walked me through all of my options and their state of art machines made my eye exam easy. Well...

- Leslie P., Rockville MD

5

Dr. Cohn provided a detailed eye exam, explaining what she was doing and why. Kim provided excellent advice on styles/colors of frames for both everyday wear glasses and sunglasses. Her advice is always spot on! My family has followed her for 26 years... she is the best!...

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Monday:10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Tuesday:10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday:10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Thursday:10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Friday:10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Saturday:10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Sunday:Closed

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Looking for an eye doctor in Rockville? Visit us!

For over a decade, Wink Eyecare Boutique has continuously provided fashionable eyewear and comprehensive eye care in Potomac, MD. Not only has our eye doctor, Dr. Rachel Cohn, helped patients of every age achieve healthy clear vision, but our team continues to bring expertise and unmatched care for anyone looking for an optometrist.